5 things to watch with the Iowa Hawkeyes’ offense in Saturday’s open spring practice
After a 2022 season that was defined by a gulf between the Iowa Hawkeyes‘ offensive and defensive units, it’s been another spring season where offensive improvement has been one of the primary focuses from the fan base.
How far along is Iowa really?
Well, Saturday gives us at least a glimpse at some of the progress the Hawkeyes might have made. Realistically, there’s only so much that can be taken out of an open practice.
Still, it’ll be great to feast our eyes on some Hawkeye football all the same. Gates to Kinnick Stadium will open at 9:45 a.m. CT with the practice slated to begin at 10:45 a.m. CT.
With the open spring practice nearly upon us, what are five things to watch for offensively with Iowa? Let’s dive in.
Cade McNamara
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Cade McNamara arrives with the expectations of being the signal-caller to reverse Iowa’s horrendous offensive fortunes of the past two seasons. Better yet, he’s actually welcomed and embraced it.
Pairing the fact that McNamara lost his starting job at Michigan with Iowa’s offensive shortcomings, there is a pretty awesome joint redemption story just waiting to be written. Of course, that hinges on just how drastically the marriage between McNamara and Iowa improves things for the Hawkeyes.
In the open spring practice, we get our first glimpse at how different Iowa’s offense can truly be with McNamara behind the wheel. Wouldn’t a couple of accurate deep balls from McNamara just help alleviate some offensive panic and frustration almost immediately?
McNamara is an upgrade over Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla. That much feels obvious. But, is he enough of an upgrade to get Iowa back into the Big Ten Championship game or perhaps to lead the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten title since 2004?
Is the offensive line any better?
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
This should probably be the first item over even the arrival of Cade McNamara. Yes, McNamara needs to be a clear-cut difference from what Iowa has had at the quarterback position, but there were moments last season where it became clear that nobody would have been altogether successful behind the Hawkeyes’ offensive line.
This group needs to be lightyears better. Iowa added a pair of key transfers, bringing in Miami (Ohio)’s Rusty Feth and Saginaw Valley State’s Daijon Parker. Parker was No. 2 at right tackle on the initial spring depth chart, while Feth arrives in the summer. Between Feth and Parker, that’s 34 college starts for Feth and 19 games that Parker appeared in over the past two seasons.
Feth’s summer arrival means the competition might truly start taking shape then, but there’s still been plenty to sort out this spring. Namely, how much further along are Mason Richman, Connor Colby, Logan Jones, and Beau Stephens?
That quartet combined for 49 starts last year. Each of those four were listed atop the depth chart at their positions to begin the spring. Colby and Richman have started 24 and 25 games the past two seasons, respectively.
What does that mean? It means that even with a pair of transfers brought into the mix and with this 2023 Iowa signing class, a large number of the snaps will still go to those four names above. It’s imperative for Iowa that there’s been substantial growth.
Against a talented, experienced Hawkeye defensive line, how do the boys up front along Iowa’s offensive line hold up in this scrimmage setting?
Can Diante Vines emerge as a top-flight wide receiver?
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
A wrist injury to start last season meant Diante Vines’ first action in 2022 wasn’t until Iowa’s Oct. 22 showdown at Ohio State. Naturally, that slowed his development progress.
He finished with 10 grabs for 94 yards in seven games played. The Danbury, Conn., product tallied 228 snaps per Pro Football Focus last season.
Iowa got good news when its receiving yardage leader among wide receivers, Nico Ragaini, announced his return to the Hawkeyes. Still, Ragaini finished with just 34 receptions for 386 yards with one touchdown. Like the rest of Iowa’s offense, Hawkeye wide receivers left plenty to be desired overall.
Of course, the wide receiver situation wasn’t helped by the offseason departures of Arland Bruce IV and Keagan Johnson. That increases the importance for Vines to be a serious contributor now in 2023.
It sounds like there’s been nice returns this spring, but let’s see some plays come Saturday.
Vintage TE greatness in Iowa City?
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
While the wide receiver position might have Iowa fans a bit nervous, there’s several other skill positions to feel really good about.
That starts with a position group the Hawkeyes have made famous. Along with McNamara, transfer tight end Erick All comes over from Michigan. Luke Lachey showcased that Iowa’s tight end room would be in good hands going forward when Sam LaPorta was sidelined late last season with an injury.
Lachey reeled in 12 grabs for 166 receiving yards with one touchdown catch in back-to-back November games against Minnesota and Nebraska. All had a very productive 2021 season at Michigan with McNamara before an injury derailed last year for him.
What does that mean for Iowa? Is there actually a No. 1 right now between the two? Or, is this a stick with the hot hand situation?
Kaleb Johnson's next act
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Every Iowa fan should be fired up to see what’s next for the Hamilton, Ohio, native. Kaleb Johnson looks like he’s going to be Iowa’s next NFL running back. Throughout last season, even Kaleb Johnson talked about what the future might look like once he fully grasped the offense.
Well, that time may now have arrived in 2023. And, if 2022 was any indication, things were already pretty special for Kaleb Johnson. There won’t be anything groundbreaking that reveals itself here in the open spring practice that fans don’t already know. But, seeing Kaleb Johnson rip off one of his patented long runs where he’s outracing Iowa defenders wouldn’t hurt any Hawkeye fan’s feelings.
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